Diabetes is a lifelong disease that has no known cure. Dealing with this chronic condition can often feel overwhelming, and it is only natural. Effectively managing your disease requires considerable effort on your part and often, necessitates a dramatic change in your lifestyle. The more you know about managing diabetes, the easier it will be to cope with your diagnosis.
You can get a free blood glucose meter from your pharmacy just by asking. They usually have coupons or rebates so that you can get the latest model at no cost, the caveat is that you’ll be buying their brand of blood test strips for the rest of your life.
If you feel someone is giving you unwelcome advice about diabetes, ask them to back off. If you do it politely they won’t be offended, and you won’t have to listen to them rattle on about things you either don’t care about or already know. If you have the knowledge to back it up then you’ll become the master of your domain!
If you absolutely must indulge in something sweet, have a glass of decaffeinated coffee with it. This will help lower the spike in blood sugar you get after eating, potentially stopping the need for you to inject more insulin. It must be decaf, though, as caffeine can have other, unwanted side effects.
To allow yourself to still enjoy your favorite foods, make simple substitutions. Collard greens can be made with turkey broth instead of ham hock, and ground beef can easily be replaced by ground turkey. Try purchasing a diabetes cookbook. You may find that you can keep on eating many of your favorite meals.
When eating healthy for a Diabetic diet, compare the items various stores sell and see who has the best prices on specific items. I like to keep a spreadsheet on my phone which shows each item I buy regularly, and which store I can get it at the best price so I can stock up when I go to that store.
Most people know that reducing their fat intake is a major step in a heart-healthy diet. For diabetics, this is even more important because the heart relies on controlled and well-maintained blood sugars. Target reduced or eliminated saturated fats, which are often from animal sources and include lard, bacon, and butter, as well as plant fats, like vegetable shortening.
Pressure on your feet can cause major damage to a Diabetic, so be sure to buy shoes that are exactly the right size and have cushioning for your feet. There are even special shoes made for Diabetics that have specific features which are of benefit to sensitive feet like yours.
When a certain food allows it, add vinegar to it if you are a dietetic. Research has shown that vinegar inhibit starch digestion and allows food to stay in the stomach longer. In turn, this helps to reduce the chances of your blood glucose levels from rising after you have eaten a meal.
Improperly managing your diabetes and blood sugar levels can lead to binge eating and overeating. Failure to accurately assess your body’s individualized responses can lead diabetics to continuously eat for fear of allowing their blood glucose levels to dip below acceptable and healthy levels. Diligent monitoring can give you a more accurate assessment than your feelings of fullness.
To lessen the symptoms of gestational diabetes, use a blood monitoring device. A blood monitoring device will let you keep track of your sugar levels and will help you keep them from rising or falling dramatically. Doing this will significantly decrease the effects gestational diabetes has on your body and will help keep you and your baby healthy.
Drinking alcohol is something you need to be very careful with when you are diabetic. You need to talk to your doctor to see if alcohol will affect your blood-glucose levels. If you are really not much of a drinker, it is best that you refrain from drinking at all.
Checking your blood glucose levels may seen like an intrusion into your daily routine, but it is a practice that can essentially save your life. Find ways to make routine checks more convenient, such as keeping multiple monitors at home and even in your desk at work. Remember, however, that your strips and monitor are sensitive to light and temperature, so they should not be kept in your vehicle.
Exercise can be an effective way to maintain healthy levels of blood glucose by increasing insulin sensitivity in you body. For the best results, do both aerobic exercise and resistance training.
When you are diabetic your insurance will normally pay for blood testing equipment you can use in the privacy of your own home to manage your condition. Make sure you go over all of the manufacturer’s directions to ensure that you are properly taking care of your very important equipment.
Blood circulation is a ongoing problem for many people that suffer with diabetes. Getting regular exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle is very important in managing your diabetes as well as your overall health. Walking, swimming, or even playing a simple sports are great activities for improving circulation to all areas of your body.
If you’re struggling with diabetes, consider eating less meat. Some schools of thought have promoted a high-protein diet for diabetics, but research has shown that a diet that contains too much protein can actually cause insulin resistance. A more balanced diet will help prevent this problem and help control existing diabetes better.
It is beneficial to keep a blood glucose monitoring system in your home if you are a diabetic. Most insurance companies will pay for your blood glucose monitoring system. To receive accurate results, make sure that you keep your equipment clean and in a safe environment. Doing so will ensure your results are accurate and your equipment lasts for a long time.
A comprehensive education about diabetes, such as, its contributing factors, symptoms, and effects on your health, as well as techniques for its management, is necessary if your goal is to lead as full and healthy a life as possible. Countless diabetics have implemented the suggestions offered in this article with excellent results.
